$925,396Average Value$627Average Price per Sq Ft39Homes For Sale
‘Our version of Bourbon Street’
Shaw is a historically African American enclave with a devastating chapter of its story written during the 1968 civil rights riots. The neighborhood draws its name from Robert Gould Shaw, the Union officer who famously led the first black regiment of the Civil War. Home to the Howard Theatre, a cultural institution that opened in 1910, the greater U Street area was once known as Black Broadway. Long touted as one of D.C.’s most promising up-and-coming neighborhoods, Shaw is almost there in terms of its complete renaissance from the urban blight of the 1980s and 90s. Now a thriving and vibrant site of urban renewal, today, the community is a music mecca painted with some of the most celebrated public art in the city. “This has become the most prominent entertainment corridor in the district,” says Kimberly Diggs, an associate broker with Douglas Elliman Real Estate who has closed over 300 transactions since 2007. “Music lovers love it; it’s our version of Bourbon Street.”
Celebrating Black history, culture and the arts
Though Shaw represents less than three-quarters of square mile in DC, the neighborhood and its most notable residents were incredibly consequential regarding American black history, culture, and arts. Symbols memorializing their legacy and contributions are found throughout the community and help preserve and elevate its historic character. Outside the Howard Theatre, stands a stunning memorial to Shaw’s most famous native son, Duke Ellington. The adjacent Walk of Fame features bronze relief portraits of the most important Black musicians of the 20th Century who performed at the venue, embedded in the sidewalk, including Marvin Gaye, Ella Fitzgerald, and Mamie Smith. The African American Civil War Memorial and Museum at the corner of Vermont Avenue, 10th and U Streets, commemorates the contributions and sacrifices made by almost 210,000 Black soldiers who fought for the Union in the Civil War. The Mary Ann Shadd Cary House is the historic residence of its namesake, who was an abolitionist and one of the first black female journalists and lawyers in the United States. One of Shaw’s coolest and somewhat hidden secrets is the DC Alley Museum, which features a collection of murals painted by DC area artists on garage doors along Blagden Alley.
‘Little Ethiopia’ headlines uniquely diverse dining
Shaw offers diverse dining options and is home to “Little Ethiopia” near the intersection of Ninth and U streets. The highly regarded and popular Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant is, however, a short walk from the heart of Little Ethiopia at the corner of U and 12th streets. Nathan Guggenheim, an agent with Washington Fine Properties, cites his favorite Shaw eatery, Nina May, as representative of an active dining scene offering “very high-end but accessible food.” Budget-conscious students and others looking for a quick and easy meal have options like McDonalds and Chipotle in the northeast of the neighborhood near Howard University’s campus. Diggs points to the opening of the Florida Avenue Whole Foods in 2020 at Florida as a key moment in Shaw’s evolution as a home and not just a destination, “It made it much more convenient for commuters.” She added, “If you don’t have a car, this is the area to live in. It’s very, very convenient to get downtown in and around town.”
Parks and gathering spaces
Shaw shows off its neighborly side with a jam-packed events calendar. There’s Art All Night Shaw, featuring music, art installations, and dance troupes, as well as Eat.Drink.Shaw., a celebration of hundreds of fantastic restaurants in the neighborhood. Events at the behemoth Walter E. Washington Convention Center, like the D.C. Auto Show and National Book Festival, draw crowds by the thousands. But if there’s one thing that’s long defined Shaw, it’s the music scene. Named the "Venue of the Decade," the 9:30 Club is an institution — and well worth the inevitable wait in line. The Atlantis, although newer to the party, is quickly becoming one of the neighborhood’s favorite venues.
Not known for its abundance of green space, Shaw’s French Street Park is a bright pop of color in a concrete landscape. The dog park and adjoining skate park are popular gathering places in the neighborhood. People are also known to congregate near the Spirit of Freedom Statue at the African American Civil War Museum.
Colorful rowhomes and newer condos and co-ops
For homebuyers considering Shaw, the real estate market is competitive with a good diversity of housing and growing home values. “The variety of styles makes this a great neighborhood for people of many different socio-economic levels to come together,” Diggs says. There aren’t grand mansions in Shaw, but there are rows of federal-style brick townhomes with colorful facades and linear accents. “Because there aren’t a lot of them, the market for these is incredibly competitive, with most buyers paying over asking price, particularly if the home includes parking,” Diggs says. The price range for townhomes is broad, from around $800,000 on the low end to upwards of $2 million. Over the last two decades, there has been a lot of redevelopment, with many mid-rises and rowhomes converted into high-end condos. “There are co-op communities throughout Shaw that provide the ability to live in the community for slightly under market value,” Diggs says. A one-bedroom, one-bath condo in need of updates can sell for as little as $250,000, while two-bedroom, three-bath modern unit in a newer building can list as high as $1.2 million.
Schools performing above average
Families with children in Shaw are served by District of Columbia Public Schools, a solid urban district with a B grade from Niche but an A in diversity. Also graded B, Seaton Elementary is known for a particularly active parent-teacher organization that frequently hosts events. Kids may then advance to Cardozo Education Campus, which serves grades six through 12 and is graded B-minus by Niche. Parents who prefer out-of-boundary options or pre-kindergarten school can participate in the notoriously competitive D.C. school lottery. Although the neighborhood is near Howard University, a historically Black research university founded in 1867, it doesn't feel like a college town because students tend to stick closely to campus.
Walkable with robust public transportation
Situated about a mile north of the White House in downtown D.C., Shaw has a dedicated Metro stop on the Green and Yellow lines and it is a quick walk to the U Street and Mount Vernon Square stations. There are Metrobus routes along most of the major thoroughfares, including Rhode Island Avenue and 11th Street. “People who buy here want to enjoy more of their lives and spend less time traveling, so they appreciate the walkability and accessibility to public transportation,” Diggs says. For those who rely on their own vehicles, parking is an issue in the neighborhood, with buyers paying a premium for homes that include parking.
Higher crime than the national average
Compared to the national CAP Index score of 4 (out of 10), Shaw’s score of 6 indicates higher than-average incidences of crime. Robbery and larceny, in particular, happen at almost double the national rate.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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On average, homes in Shaw, Washington sell after 40 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Shaw, Washington over the last 12 months is $901,750, up 8% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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